One Apple A Day #90
Ninety apples. When I started this little program, I didn’t set a duration or a finish line.
The idea was to keep going until it became natural, like drinking water or having breakfast.
I’m not there yet, but I’m close. I don’t have to set reminders or alarms, every day I feel the need to write. So I successfully installed the habit of writing in my brain. But I still struggle to get into the “writing zone” where the words flow. Sometimes it takes me up to one hour to find the inspiration to write. But I’m getting better. I discovered that we can learn to be inspired.
All these apples taught me two valuable lessons.
The first one is the importance of the environment where I write. The “writing zone” is a mental place built upon a physical space. Entering the writing zone is, for me, an outside-inside process. I am still trying to figure out which is the ideal environment that creates the inner space I need for writing. At the beginning I thought it was about removing all possible distractions — phones notifications, noises, people — so I used to write in my living room, alone, with the phone turned off and the right music through my earbuds to cover any other noises. It works most of the time, but not always. With my surprise, I’ve been able to focus on writing in uncomfortable sits inside busy and noisy places like airports. Or, like now, sitting on a chair with the laptop on my legs to stay close to the power plug, people going around in the house, someone cutting the grass outside, the cat playing at my feet and no music at all. And despite all these potential distractions, I’m in m writing zone. What I’m trying to say is that there isn’t the “ideal” external environment that will guarantee the inner space you need to write. There are a lot of elements that can help you to or stop you from getting in the zone. It’s important to observe and listen where you are when you write and learn what works better for you.
The second lesson is that I need the right trigger to ignite my writing flow. If I’m not inspired, I’m not able to write. I keep staring at the screen with my fingers laying on the keyboard. No words come out from my mind. This block was something I was worried when I started this project. What happens if one day I’m not inspired? The good news is that you can train yourself to be inspired. It’s all about setting up the right triggers and trust.